54-40 mixes rock and talk at the Chatham Capitol Theatre

British Columbia’s veteran rockers 54-40 brought storytelling and rock ‘n’ roll to the Chatham Capitol Theatre on Thursday, January 30, 2025, delivering a memorable night filled with both humor and hits.

Touring in support of their 2023 album Westcoast Band, the band opened their set with a unique twist: frontman Neil Osborne offered witty and heartfelt backstories before launching into each song, often highlighting colorful anecdotes about his bandmates.

Neil Osborne | SWOMP Photo

“Different folks may have different versions, but essentially they’re all true,” Osborne joked to the audience.

One story centered on guitarist Dave Genn, who joined the band in 2003 after his tenure with the Matthew Good Band and quickly became an integral part of 54-40’s dynamic.

“He came into our outfit, a little trial by fire,” Osborne recalled. “We had to quickly fill the time and then he just stayed with us. We had a tour of Northern England, and this tour was quite crazy. So, it was a lean, mean tour. You didn’t get the luxury of an Econoline van; we had a little sedan called a Roper. And Dave knew how to drive on the wrong side of the road. He was really good at it.”

The band’s adventures took them to small towns like Cleethorpes and Scunthorpe.

“When we got our Hall of Fame Canadian Music Award, I was talking about some of the shows we’ve done,” Osborne said. “I mentioned Scunthorpe and Cleethorpes, and I said, ‘I bet no one has ever been there,’ and Alex Lifeson from Rush goes, ‘I have.’ They played everywhere, those guys.”

The band also gigged in places like Blackpool, Blackburn, and Mansfield.

“It was harsh territory,” Osborne recalled. “We’d go to the club and these dudes would go, ‘Hey, you wanna go? Wanna go?’ And that means fight apparently. We were like, ‘Sure, where?’ They just thought we were stupid, so they didn’t want to fight us.”

A night out in Blackpool led to a story that shaped a band tradition.

“Every 20 years or so, 54-40 likes to do a thing where we go to a discotheque,” Osborne explained. “We’re in the disco, and the promoter guy, who feels sorry for us, keeps buying us these drinks. They sort of taste like Kool-Aid—kind of weird. It was a Red Bull and vodka. You don’t taste the vodka, right? So, we have a few of those, and I go to Dave, ‘I can’t feel my hands.’ Very fun night.”

Back in North America, Genn proposed an idea.

“Dave goes, ‘This band’s got a legion of great songs and a reputation—we need a signature drink,’” Osborne shared. “Dave writes all the sets, by the way. So, he says we need this signature drink, and he created it: vodka surprise. It’s cranberry, soda, vodka, and Red Bull. He uses the whole bottle, and somebody gets an uber dose. He doesn’t tell you who. You’re not supposed to drink the whole thing, but they go down.”

Prior to the show at the Capitol, SWOMP caught up with Genn for an interview. Listen, below:

After a 20-minute intermission, the band made good on Osborne’s promise of “less talk, more rock,” delivering a powerhouse second set.

Classic tracks like ‘Baby Ran,’ ‘Since When,’ ‘Ocean Pearl,’ and ‘One Gun’ ignited the crowd. The band seamlessly tagged Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain’ onto their hit ‘Casual Viewin’’ and closed with a fiery transition from ‘Love You All’ into The Clash’s ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go?’

“I’m so happy that we get to play and you guys keep coming back to see us,” Osborne said before the final song. “I have to thank the 54-40 crew. These guys have been with us for years; we’re one big happy family. It’s an extended family because it’s you guys too. Thanks for putting up with us and that first set thing. We love you all, take care.”

The band has four remaining Ontario tour dates, including stops in Richmond Hill, Brampton, and St. Catharines, before wrapping up in Lindsay on February 4.

Follow the band at 5440.com.

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